Past Tenses

• To describe parallel ac�ons; While I was washing the dishes, I heard a loud noise.
• To describe what someone was doing at a par�cular point in �me; I was working in the
garden all day yesterday.

• To express interrupted ac�on in the past; I was driving to work when I crashed my car.
• To describe repe��on and irrita�on; He was always complaining in class.
• To describe a scenario in the story; The wind was blowing, and the dogs were barking. Someone
was knocking on the door.

Time Expression
while when, as all morning/evening/day/week, etc.
 Unit
Exercises 6
6.1 Complete the sentences. Choose from:
was looking was wearing wasn’t listening weren’t looking
was snowing was working were sitting were you going

1 Today Helen is wearing a skirt. Yesterday she was wearing trousers.

2 ‘What did he say?’ ‘I don’t know. I .’
3 We at the back of the theatre. We couldn’t hear very well.
4 This time last year Steve on a farm.
5 They didn’t see me. They in my direction.
6 The weather was bad. It was very cold and it .
7 I saw you in your car. Where ?
8 I saw Kate a few minutes ago. She for you.
6.2 Which goes with which?

1 When I got to the cafe a when she was living in Rome. 1 f

2 We fell asleep b she was working in a clothes shop. 2
3 Amy learnt Italian c when I was driving home. 3
4 Tom didn’t come out with us d but nobody was watching it. 4
5 The car began to make a strange noise e while we were watching a film. 5
6 The TV was on f my friends were waiting for me. 6
7 When I first met Jessica g because he wasn’t feeling well. 7

6.3 Put the verb into the correct form, past continuous or past simple.
1 2

SUE

I saw (see) Sue in town yesterday, but I (cycle) home yesterday

she! (not/see) me. when a man (step) out into the
She (look) the other way. road in front of me.
I (go) quite fast, but luckily
I (manage) to stop in time,
and I (not/hit) him.

6.4 Put the verb into the correct form, past continuous or past simple.
1 Jenny was waiting (wait) for me when I arrived (arrive).
2 ‘What (you / do) at this time yesterday?’ ‘I was asleep.’
3 ‘ (you / go) out last night?’ ‘No, I was too tired.’
4 How fast (you / drive) when the accident (happen)?
5 Sam (take) a picture of me while I (not / look).
6 We were in a very difficult position. We (not / know) what to do, so we
(do) nothing.
7 I haven’t seen Alan for ages. When I last (see) him, he
(try) to find a job.
8 I (walk) along the street when suddenly I (hear)
something behind me. Somebody (follow) me. I was scared and I
(start) to run.
9 When I was young, I (want) to be a pilot. Later I
(change) my mind.
10 Last night I (drop) a plate when I (do) the washing up.
Fortunately it (not / break).
➜ Additional exercise 1 (page 302) 13
Exercises

fM 'V
Lo o k a t t h e p ict u res. W h e re w ere t h ese p e o p le a t 3 o'clock yest erd a y a f t e rn o o n? A n d w h a t w ere
t h e y d o in g? W ri t e t w o se n t e n ces f or e ach pict ure.

PLATFC5R' ^ ^ S
I I
L ; , r / V 111
1 i ^
R A C H EL JA CK K A TE TOM TR A CEY MR A N D MRS H A LL

at h o m e at th e cin e m a in h is c a r a t t h e sta tio n in t h e p a r k

w a tch TV w a t c h a f il m d riv e w a it f o r a tra in w alk

1 Rachel, was a t home. She was watching TV...............................................................................................

2 Jack an d K a t e ........................................................................ T h e y .......................................................................................................
3 T o m ................................................................................................................................................................................................................
4 ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
5 ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
6 A n d yo u? I ................................................................................................................................................................................................

Sarah di d a lo t o f t h in gs yest e r d a y m o rn in g . Lo o k a t t h e p ict u r es a n d c o m p le t e t h e se n t e nces.

8.30 - 9.00 1 A t 8 .4 5 s h e w a s w ash in g h e r c a r.

7 .1 0 - 7 .2 5 7 .3 0 - 8 .1 0
2 A t 10.45 s h e

3 A t 8 o 'c l o c k

breakfast 4 A t 12.1 0.........

9 .2 0 - 1 0 .0 0

5 A t 7 .1 5 ............

6 A t 9 .3 0 ............

C o m p le t e t h e q u esti o ns. Use w as / w e r e -in g . Use w h a t / w h e r e / w h y if n ecessary.

Lo o k a t t h e p ict u re. Yo u sa w Joe in t h e str e e t yest e r d a y af t e rn o o n . W h a t w as he d o in g? W ri t e

p osit iv e o r n e g a tive se n t e nces.
1 (w e ar / a ja ck e t) H e w a s n Y w e arin g a j a c k e t ,........................
2 (c arry / a bag) ..................................................................................................
3 (go / to th e d e n tist) .....................................................................................
4 (e at / an ice cre a m ) ......................................................................................
5 (c arry / an u m brella) ...................................................................................
6 (go / h o m e) ......................................................................................................
7 (w e ar / a h a t) ...................................................................................................
8 (rid e / a b icycle) .............................................................................................

37
 His p h o n e rang. He st o p p e d reading. H e answ ere d his
p h o n e.

W h a t happened? His p h o n e rang, ( p a st sim ple )

W h a t was Jack d oing w h e n his p h o n e rang?
( p a st continuous)
H e was readin g a b o ok.

W h a t did he do w h e n his p h o n e rang?

( p a st sim ple )
H e sto p p ed reading an d answered his p h o n e.

Jack began reading before his p h o n e rang.

So when his p h o n e rang, he was reading.

he starte d his p h o n e he sto p p e d he answ ere d

reading rang re ading his p h o n e
______ i
he was reading

p a st sim ple p a st continuous

O a: W h a t did yo u do yesterd ay m ornin g? O a: W h a t were yo u doing at 10.30?
b: W e played tennis, (fro m 10 to 11.30) b : W e were playin g tennis.

st a rt fin ish st a rt
10 o'clock 11.30 10 o'clock
11................ ....... 11 i |
\ \ t / /
w e played w e were playing
com plete action unfinished action

O Jack read a b o o k yesterday. (= fro m O Jack was reading a b o o k w h e n his

b e gin nin g to e n d) p h o n e rang.
O Did yo u watch th e g am e on T V last Were yo u watchin g T V w h e n I p h o n e d
night? yo u?
O It did n't rain w h ile w e w ere on holiday. It w asn't rainin g w h e n I got up.

O I starte d w o rk at 9 o'clo ck an d finishe d at 4.30. A t 2.30 I was workin g.

O It was rainin g w h e n w e w e nt o u t. (= it starte d rainin g before w e w e n t o u t)
O I saw Lu cy an d Steve this m ornin g. Th e y were w aitin g at th e bus sto p.
O Kelly fell asleep w h ile she was reading.

38 ( I d i d (p ast sim ple) 4 U n i ts 1 1 - 1 2 I w as d o in g (p ast c o ntin u o us) » U n i t 13 w h il e U n i t 105 )

Exercises
Lo o k a t t h e p ict u res. Pu t t h e ve rbs in t h e c o rr e c t f or m, p ast c o n t in u o us o r p ast si m ple.
Lucy b ro k e (bre a k) her arm last w e ek.
I t ................................................................(h a p p e n) w h e n
s h e ................................................................ (p a in t) her
ro o m . S h e .............................................................. (fall)
o ff th e ladder.

Th e t r a i n ................................................................(arriv e)
at th e statio n an d P a u la .................................................
(g e t) off. Tw o frie n ds o f hers, Jon an d Rachel,
..........................................................................(w a it) to
m e e t her.

3 Yesterday S u e ............................................... (walk)

along the road when sh e ............................. (m e e t)
James. H e ................................................................ (go)
to the station to catch a train and he
..........................................................(carry) a bag.
T h e y ........................................................... (sto p) to
talk for a few minutes.

Put th e verb into the past c o n tin u o us or past sim ple.

1 a: W h at was the weather like when y o u got (get) up this morning?
b: I t w as raining (rain).
2 a : Was Jane busy when you w ent to see her?
b : Yes, sh e ........................................................... (stu dy).
3 a : ........................................................... (Paul/call) you this morning?
b: Yes, h e ........................................................... (call) while.I .............................................................(have) breakfast.
4 a : Was Tracey at w ork today?
b: No, s h e ........................................................... (not/ g o) to work. She was ill.
5 a : H o w f a st........................................................................ (yo u / drive) when the police
........................................................... (sto p) you?
b: I'm not sure, but I ........................................................................ (n o t / drive) very fast.
6 a : ..........................................................................(yo ur team / win) the football match yesterday?
b: Th e weather was very bad, so w e ........................................................... (n ot/ play).
7 a : H o w ........................................................................ (you / break) the win d ow?
b: W e (play) football... I ........................................................... (kick) the ball and
i t ........................................................... (hit) the wind ow.
8 a : ..........................................................................(yo u /see) Jessica last night?
b: Yes, sh e ..........................................................................(w ear) a very nice jacket.
9 a : W h a t ..........................................................................(yo u / d o) at 2 o'clock this morning?
b: I was asleep.
10 a : I ..........................................................(lose) my key last night.
b: H o w ........................................................... (yo u / g et) into yo ur room?
a : I ..........................................................(clim b) in through a wind ow.

A d d i t i o n a l e x e r c is e s 1 4 - 1 5 ( p a g es 2 5 7 - 5 8 )
 PAST SIMPLE VS. PAST CONTINUOUS

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Past Simple vs. Past Continuous

A. Do you use the past simple or past continuous in these situations? Write the letter
in the correct box below.

a. You want to emphasize that an action took some time.

b. You want to talk about a state or situation that was true in the past.

c. You want to emphasize something happened again and again over time.

d. You want to emphasize change or growth over time.

e. You want to talk about a one-time completed action or event. The duration isn't important.

f. You want to talk about a relatively long action that was ongoing at a particular time.

g. You want to talk about a repeated, completed action or event. The duration isn't important.

h. You want to talk about a relatively long action that was interrupted by a shorter one.

i. You want to talk about a relatively short action or event that happened during a longer one.

j. You want to talk about a plan that would have been completed in the past but was changed.

Past simple Past continuous

B. Complete the sentences in the past simple or continuous using the verbs in brackets.

1. Oh man, my back ...................... (ache) all day.

2. I ...................... (take) a shower when the package arrived.

3. I ...................... (do) my homework after I ...................... (get) home from school.

4. Her chess game ...................... (get) better steadily.

5. Sorry I didn't answer the phone before. I was driving when you ...................... (call).

6. What ...................... you ...................... (do) on the night of the murder?

7. I often ...................... (stop) for tea in the morning before I ...................... (get) married.

8. I didn't have lunch, so I really ...................... (need) something to eat when I got home.

9. He ..................... always ..................... (talk) about his bowling scores, but no one cared.

10. We ...................... (plan) to buy you a cake for your birthday, but the bakery was closed.

C. Match the sentences above with the situations in Exercise A.

1. ........ 2. ........ 3. ........ 4. ........ 5. ........

6. ........ 7. ........ 8. ........ 9. ........ 10. ........

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 PAST SIMPLE VS. PAST CONTINUOUS

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Past Simple vs. Past Continuous

D. Match the timelines with the situations in Exercise A. The grey boxes show actions or
states that continued for some time. The vertical lines show times or shorter actions.
Then, write sentences that correspond to the timelines using the prompts. Add time
adverbs and other information where appropriate.
Situation
Example: past I / wear / costume the girl I like / notice me now
h
.........

I was wearing a costume when the girl I like noticed me.

...................................................................................................................................
1. past Grace / go / football match now
.........

...................................................................................................................................
2. past Milo / cook dinner the guests / arrive now
.........

...................................................................................................................................
3. past Noah / text / friends now
.........

...................................................................................................................................
4. past Jacob / take guitar lessons Jacob / quit now
.........

...................................................................................................................................
5. past Hazel / give a presentation 11:00 now
.........

...................................................................................................................................
6. past Lucy / want / pony / when / child now
.........

...................................................................................................................................
7. past John / forget / keys now
.........

...................................................................................................................................
8. past (My daughter) Claire / grow up / fast now
.........

...................................................................................................................................
9. past Wren / plan / go / library her plan / change now
.........

..................................................................................................................................

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 PAST SIMPLE VS. PAST CONTINUOUS

ESL / EFL RESOURCES When and While

A. Complete the two grammar rules and examples for using the past simple and past
continuous with 'when' and 'while'.

1. ................. is used when you have a past continuous action followed by a past simple
action. The past simple action often interrupts the continuous one.

Example: I was watching a film ................. the phone rang.

2. ................. is used for two past continuous actions that happen at the same time.

Example: I was watching a film ................. my brother was talking on the phone.

B. Using the two rules, underline the correct past tenses in each sentence.

1. Anna walked / was walking in the park when it started / was starting to rain.

2. We ate / were eating lunch when the doorbell rang / was ringing.

3. I did / was doing my homework while my mum made / was making dinner.

4. The children played / were playing cards when they heard / were hearing a scream.

5. We worked / were working when the fire alarm went / was going off.

6. Sheila texted / was texting her friend while her mum talked / was talking to her.

7. Amelia slept / was sleeping while her parents watched / were watching TV.

8. I cleaned / was cleaning the floor when the vase fell / was falling off the table.

C. Following the rules above, complete the story with the verbs in brackets in their
past simple or past continuous form.

Yesterday, I (1) ......................... (finish) my English homework

in my bedroom when I (2) ......................... (hear) a loud crash.

I (3) ......................... (go) outside and (4) .........................

(see) tree branches and leaves everywhere. It turned out my

neighbour (5) ......................... (cut) down his tree while I

(6) ....................... (do) my homework. He (7)......................... (apologize) to me and then

I (8)......................... (help) him clean up the mess. We (9) ......................... (clean) when

my mum (10) ......................... (call) me in for dinner. She didn't hear the loud noise

because she (11) ......................... (listen) to music on her headphones while she

(12) ......................... (prepare) dinner.

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 PAST SIMPLE VS. PAST CONTINUOUS

ESL / EFL RESOURCES When and While

Both 'when' and 'while' can also be used when you have a past simple action that
comes before a past continuous action.

Example: He lost his wallet when/while we were shopping.

Remember, if you have a past continuous action followed by a past simple action, you
can only use 'when'.

Examples: We were shopping when he lost his wallet. (right)

We were shopping while he lost his wallet. (wrong)

D. Using the two rules above, indicate whether you can use 'when', 'while' or 'both'
as the missing word in each sentence.

1. I was washing my hair ............... the power went out. when / while / both

2. I hurt my back ............... I was lifting the piano. when / while / both

3. She was setting the table ............... she dropped the fork. when / while / both

4. The school bus arrived ............... I was talking to my friend. when / while / both

5. Tim broke his leg ............... he was snowboarding. when / while / both

6. I was taking a photo ............... the accident happened. when / while / both

E. Complete the sentences with your own ideas using the grammar rules above.

1. I was listening to the radio .........................................................................................

2. It started to rain .......................................................................................................

3. Someone knocked the door ........................................................................................

4. She was cooking dinner .............................................................................................

5. The girl cut her finger ................................................................................................

6. My computer crashed ................................................................................................

7. I was playing video games .........................................................................................

8. He was doing the laundry ..........................................................................................

9. I heard a loud noise while ..........................................................................................

10. I was playing football ..............................................................................................

11. I was driving to work ...............................................................................................

12. Someone stole my bag when ....................................................................................

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